Braiding-machine.



J. LUNDGREN.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1914..

Patented June 29, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inventor.- Jacob L202 y N X @rerz,

QPJWCLA'M W127i asses J. LUNDGREN.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION, FILED MAR, 25,

Patented June 29, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2' J. LUNDGREN.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1914.

1,144,716. Patented June 29, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

]. LUNDGREN.

BRAIDING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED MAR. 25, 1914.

Patented June 29, 1915. v

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

a: r so.

WENSTROM MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

INCORPORATED, 013 PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA, A CORP fill ION OF DELAWARE.

BRAIDING-MACHINE Specification of Letters latent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed March 25, 1914. Serial No. 827,121.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that}, JACOB LUNDGREN, a citizen of the United States; residing at Philadelphia inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Braiding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

. My invention relates to improvements in braiding machines wherein are employed a set of spaced carriers adapted to carry a set of thread-supplying devices, a common carrier adapted to carry asecond set of threadsupplying devices, means for supporting and rotating said set of carriers and said common carrier inopposite directions to each other and for eausing'thre'ads delivered from said' devices carried-by the common carrier to move sinuously through the spaces between and around the spaced carriers and the thread-supplying devices carried thereby and the threadsdelivered thererom for formation of the braid.

Heretofore machines of this general character have been objectionable because the mechanism they ha ve employed .to guide the and actuate the spaced carriers, and the mechanism they have employed-to uide the threads delivered from the thread-supply ing devices of the common carrier'have been too costly, toocomplex, subjectto too'much,

friction and wear and too liable to get out of order.

. The object of my invention is't'o overcome tb'ese objections which are particularly marked in prior machines 1111 1 111 0 cause each thread of the thread supplying devices of the common carrier Passover and under each two succeeding spaced carriers in alternate succession and. between each succeeding two spaced carriers which were passedover and under by each threadfs preceding thread, which operation is included in my present invention.

With this object in view my invented'machine consists of the elements andthe com binations of them hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanving drawings, illustrating my invention: Figure 1, is aside elevation of my improved braiding machine, parts of the thread guiding arms for the upper thread s'up'plying devices being broken away. Fig. 2, is a view of 'one ofth'e upper thread-supplying devices and its carrier detached from t'he'machine. Fig. 3, is a development of a portion of the braid producedby my improved machine, as illustrated herein. Fi 4, is afront elevation of the machine, part y in section on line 3-3 of Fig. 15-. Fig. 5, is a horizontal section, on line 55 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6, is a horizontal section, on line 6-6 of Fig. 4. Fig.7, is a vertical section of the lower portion of the machine, on line"Z-7'of Fig. 5. Fig. 8, is a plan of the central member and the'spaced parts around the same for supporting. the sectional track on which the set of spaced carriers for the upper thread-supplying devices is rotated.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the base of'the machineframe and 3 a central standard rising fixedly from the base. Rotatably mounted on the standard 3 is a carrier 8 for a set of thread-supplying de vices 9 which are mounted-on suitable brackets 10 secured to the carrier 8. The carrier 8 is driven by the main shaft 11 through coacting bevel gear wheels 12 and 13 secured to the carrier 8 andshaft 11, respectively. The main shaft 11 is mounted to turn in bearings 14 and 1.5 on the base 2; and the outer end of the shaft 11 is provided withfast and loose pulleys 16 and 17 by means of which the machine may be driven from" a suitable sourceof power.

Supported on the standard 3 above the carrier 8 is a member 18 having regularly spaced, radially-extending arms 19. Rising fixedly from the base 9 at regular'intervals around the carrier 8 are standards 20 having horizontal parts or plates 21 secured to the upper ends thereof and extending inwardly therefrom into the spaces between the arms 19 of the member 18, providing a sinuous course aroundthe outer edge of the member 18 and between the member 18 and the parts 21. On the; member 18 and plates 21, and formed by parts thereof and parts secured thereto is an annular, sectional trackway 22 which is intersected by the sinuous course around the member 18. $lidab1y fittedto the track'way 22 is a set of spaced carriers 23 carrying a set of thread supplying devices 24 corresponding in number, with the devices of the-set 9.

The outer portions of the carriers 23 are provided with'gear'teeth 25 which co-act with the inner portions of a circularly-arranged set of regularly spaced pinions 26 secured to the upper ends of short vertical shafts 27 some of which are journaled in the arms 19 and some of which are journaled in the parts 21-, the shafts 2-7 being journaled in pairs in the parts 21 and singly in the arms 19 in alternate succession, as clearly shown in Fig.5. The lower ends of the shafts 27 below the parts 21 and member 18 are provided with ninions 28 the outer portions of which co-act with the teeth of a sectional internal gear ring or wheel 29 secured on the outer portion of the carrier 8, whereby, when the carrier 8 is rotated in one direction the carriers 23.will be bodily rotated in the opposite direction at the same rate of speed around the trackway 22 by the gear ring 29, pinions 28, shafts 27 and pinions 26, the pinions 26 being so spaced and related to the carriers 23 that before the teeth of a carrier 23 passes from engagement with one pinion 26 the carrier comes into engagement with the next pinion 26. Thus the pinions 26 drive the set of carriers '23 bodily and maintain the carriers equally spaced from each other.

The threads from the set of thread-supplying devices 9 are guided through the sinuous course around the member 18 during the operation of the machine, and for this purpose I provide the following: Plvoted, at 30, to the top of the carrier 8 above each lower thread-supplying device 9 is a flat angle arm 31, the free end of which carries a vertical tube 32,- the lower portion of which extends downwardly from the arm 31 and through a slot 33 in the carrier 8 and the upper portion of which extends upwardly from the arm 31 to a position at or near the same level with the tops of the upper thread-supplying devices 24. Each arm 31 is 'providedwith an upwardly-extending pin carrying a roller 34 which is located within a cam groove 35 formed in the bottom of the fixed member 18. The

tubes 32 extend vertically through the horizontal sinuous course formed around the outer edge of the member 18 and between the rnemberv 18 and the parts 21; and the contour of the cam groove 35 is such that when the carrier 8 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6, the tubes 32 will be caused to traverse said sinuous course, the slots 33 in the carrier 8 permitting the lower portions of the tubes 32 to move toward and from the center of the machine. The sectional gear ring 29 constitutes a common gear wheel which drives the pinions which actuate the spaced car-.

riers 23, and the spaces between the adjacent sections of the ring 29 permit the tubes 32 to pass through spaces between adjacent teeth of the common gear wheel, so that the thread guig tubes 32 may pass around the inside of certain of the pinions and around the outside of certain of,the pinions, in traversing the said sinuous course. This is an important feature of myinvention.

There is a thread guiding tube 32 for each lower thread-supplying device 9, and the thread from each device 9 passes up through its tube 32 and from the upper end of its tube to the vertical opening in the tube or part 36 through which the braid isdrawn as rapidly asit is formed. The thread from each upper threadsupplying device 24 passes around a'vertical pin 37 on its carrier 23, thence to and through a guide opening in a vertical pin 38 on its carrier 23 and from the upper end of the pin 38 to the opening in the tube 36. The tube 36 is carried by an angle arm 39 which is vertically adjustable in a bracket 40 carried by and extending between a pair of horizontalshafts 41 and 42 which extend between and are supported by two side standards 43 and 44 rising fixedly from the base 2, the bracket 40 being secured to the shaft 41, and the shaft 41 being secured to the standards. As a suitable means to draw thefinished braid .up through the tube 36, as the, braid is formed below the same, I provide the following: Rotatably mounted on the shaft 41, between two fixed collars thereon, is a grooved take-up wheel 45 adapted to receive the finished braid and draw it upwardly from the formin tube 36, when the wheel 45 is rotated. he take-up wheel 45 has gear teeth or a gear wheel 46 formed thereon which co-acts with a pinion 47 secured on the shaft 42. The shaft 42 is rotatable in the standards 43 and 44 and bracket 40, and one end -of the shaft 42 extends outwardly and has fixed thereon a gear wheel 48 which co-acts with a gear wheel 49 on oneend of a 1 short shaft 50 which is mounted to rotate in a bearing 51 on the standard 44. The other end of the shaft 50 carries a worm wheel 52 which is driven by a worm 53 on the upper end of a vertical shaft 54 which is'mounted to turn in the bearing 15 and a bearing 55 on the standard 44. j The lower end of the shaft 54 carries a bevel gear wheel 56 which co-acts with a similar wheel 57 on the main driving shaft 11. From this construction it will be understood that when the main shaft 11 is rotated, the take-up wheel 45 will be rotated at a much slower rate of speed.

The operation of the machine is as follows Power is applied to the main shaft 11 to rotate it in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 1, 4 and 6, thereby slowly rotating the take-up wheel 45 in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 1 and 4, and rotating the carrier 8 in the directionof the arrows in Figs. 5 and 6 at a much higher speed, and causing the gearing between the carrier 8 and the set 0 spaced carriers .23 to bodily rotate the carriers 23 around the trackway 22 at move inthe opposite direction to the devices24 and to follow the sinuous course around the outer edge of the member 18, thus guiding the threads from the lower devices 9 sinuously through and from positions inwardly of to positions outwardly of,

the path traversed by the devices 24, and also through the spaces between the devices 24, thereby interlacing the threads from the devices 9 with the threads from the devices '24 for the formation of the braid which is clear the devices 24, and that when each guide 32 passes a device 24 on the inside thereof, the device 24 and its carrier 23 will be supported by one of the parts 21, and that when each guide 32 passes a device 24 on the outside thereof, the device 24 and its carrier 23 will be supported by the member 18. Further, in the present embodiment of my invention, the timing of the movement of the thread guides 32 with respect to the devices 24 is such that each guide 32 will pass around the outside and then around the inside of two adjacent devices 24 and their carriers 23 in alternate succession and be? tween each succeedingtwo devices 24 which were passed around by each threads preceding thread, thus producing a braid in which each thread thereof passes over and under two threads in alternate succession and between the two threads over and under which the next adjacent thread passes, as shown in Fig. 3. As rapidly asthe braid is formed between the tube 36 and the thread guides 32 and 38, the take-up wheel 45 draws the braid up through the tube 36.

One of the important results obtained by my present invention is that I am enabled to employ a fixed annular trackway for the independent carriers for one set of threadsupplying devices in a braiding machine in which the thread-supplying devices rotate in annular paths and which is capable of weaving the threads over two and under two, as illustrated in Fig. 3. All machines prior to my present invention require for this purpose a construction in which the trackwa'y rotates-in the opposite direction to the carriers which it supports and guides. It will, therefore, be quite obvious that my present invention greatly reduces the friction in the vital part of the machine or in that part which is subjected to the greatest wear. Further, it will be observed that, according to my present invention, I am enabled to divide the actuating mechanism for the set of separate carriers for one set of thread-supplying devices, by the path through which the threads of the other set of thread-supplying devices are moved and to support one portion of said divided mechanism on one .side of said path and to support the other portion of said divided mechanism on the other side of said path. I claim this novel feature broadly. It is an important factor in enabling me to simplify, prolong the life, and reduce the cost of braiding machines of the type to which my invention relates, which will produce the character of'braid illustrated in' Fig.3 and previously described herein.

I claim:

1. In a braiding machine, the combination of a set of spaced carriers adapted to carry a set of thread-supplying devices, a common carrier adapted to carry a second set of thread-supplying devices, means for supporting and rotating said set of carriers and said common carrier in opposite directions to each other andfor causing threads delivered from said second set of said devices to move sinuously through the spaces between and around said spaced carriers, said means including spaced pinions arranged in a circular series to actuate the carriers of said set, and said threads moving sinuously around the outside of certain of said pinions and around the inside of certain of said pinions in alternate succession.

2. In a braiding machine, the combination of a set of spaced carriers adapted to carry a set .of thread-supplying devices, a common carrier adapted to carry a second set of thread-supplying devices, means for supporting and rotating said set of carriers and said common carrier in opposite directions to each other and for causing threads delivered from said second set of said devices to move sinuously through the spaces between and around said spaced carriers, said means including spaced pinions arranged in a circular series to actuate the carriers of said set, and said threads moving sinuously through a path around the outside of certain of said pinions and around the inside of certain of said pinions in alternate succession, and the pinions on the outside of said path being more numerous than the pinions on the inside of said path.

3. In a braiding machine, the combination of a set of spaced carriers adapted to carry a set of thread-supplying devices, a common carrier adapted to carry a second set of thread supplying devices, means for supporting and rotating said set of carriers and said common carrier in o posite directions to each other and for causing threads delivered from said second set of said devices to move sinuously through the spaces between and around said spaced carriers,v said means including spaced pinions arranged in acircular series co-acting with the carriers of said set, said threads moving sinuously around the outside of one of said pinions ahd around the inside of two of said pinions in alternate succession.

4. In a braiding machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a set of spaced carriers for a set of thread-supplying devices, means for actuating said carriers and for guiding threads from a second set of threadsupplying devices, said means including spaced, pinions anda gear wheel co-acting with said pinions and having thread-receiving spaces at intervals between adjacent teeth, and the threads from the second set of devices beingguided by said means to pass through said spaces.

5. In a braidng machine, the combination of a supporting frame, .a'central standard supported on said frame, a'member supported by said standard, parts supported by said frame and providing a sinuous course between said'member and. said parts, a set of spaced carriers adapted to carry a set of! thread-supplying devices, said member and said parts being provided with means to support and guide said carriers in an annular path intersected by said sinuous course, and means for actuating said carriers and for guiding threads from a second set of 5 I tion of a supporting frame, a central stand- .ard supported on said frame, .a member thread-supplying devices through said course, said means including spaced pinions certain of which are'supported by said member and certain of which are supported by said parts.

6. In a braiding machine,tlie;combination of a supporting frame, a central standard supported on said frame, a member supported by said standard,parts supported by said frame and providing a sinuous course between said member and said parts, a set of spaced carriers adapted to carry a set of thread-supplying devices, said member and said parts being provided with means to support and guide said carriers in an annular path intersected by said sinuous course, and means for actuating said carriers and for guiding threads from a second set of threadsupplying devices through said course, said meausrincluding spaced pinions and a gear wheel coacting therewith and rotatable around said standard, certain of said pinions being supported by said member and certain of said pinions being supported by said parts.

7. in a braiding machine, the combination of a supporting frame, acentral standard supported on saidframe, a, member supported by said standard, parts supported by said frame and providing -a sinuous course betweensaid member and said parts,

a set of spaced carriers provided with gear teeth and adapted to carry a set of threadsupplying devices, said member and said parts being provided with means to support and guide said carriers in an annular path intersected by said sinuous course, and means for, actuating said carriersand for guiding threads from a second set of threadsupplying devices through said course, said means including shafts rotatably mounted in said member, shafts rotatably mounted in saidparts, a gear wheel rotatable around said standard, pinion-s on said shafts co-act ing with said, gear wheel, and other pinions on said shafts co-acting with the gear teeth of said carriers.

8. In a braiding-machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a set of spaced carriers adapted to carry a set of thread-: supplying devices, a stationary track for supporting and guiding said set ofcarriers in an annular path, a rotatable carrier adapted to carry a second set of thread-supplying devices, means operated' by said carrier for rotating said set of carriers aroundsaid path, and means cooperating with said carrierv for moving threadsdelivered from said second set of devices over and under each succeeding two carriers of said set in alternate succession and between each succeeding two carriers which were passed over and under by each threads preceding thread. v y

9. In a braiding machine, the combinasupported 1 by said standard, parts supported by said frame and providing a sinuous course between, said member and s'aidparts,

succeeding two carriers of said set of car- 'rlers in alternate v'success1on and between each succeeding two; carriers which were passed over and under byeach threads preceding thread.

10. In a braiding machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a central standard supported on said frame, a member supported by said standard, parts supported by said frame and providing a sinuous course between saidmember and said parts, a set of spaced carriers adapted tocarry a set of spaced thread-supplying devices, said means 5 carried by said carrier and arran ed to guide threads delivered from said second set of said devices through said course, and means on said member for governing the movement of said thread-guiding parts and causing them to guide said threads over and under each succeeding two carriers of said set of carrlers 1n alternate succession-and between each [succeedingtwo carriers which were passed over and under by each threads preceding thread.

11. In a braiding machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a central-standard supported on said frame, a member sup- I ported by said standard, parts supported by said frame and providing a sinuous course between said member and said parts, a set of spaced carriers adapted to carry a set of spaced thread-supplying devices,'said member and said parts being provided with means to support and guide said carriers in an annular path intersected by sa1d sinuous course, a carrler rotatable on sa1d standard and adapted to carry asecond set of threadsupplying devices, means operated bysaid carrier for rotating said set of carriers in an opposite direction, arms pivoted to said carrier and provided with thread-guiding parts arranged to guide threads delivered from said second set of said devices through said course, and a cam'on said member governing the movement of said arms and cansing said'thread-guiding parts to guide said threads over and under each succeeding two carriers of said set of carriers in alternate successlon and between each succeeding two carriers whlch were passed over and under by each threads preceding thread. v

12. In a braiding machine, the combinathreads delivered from said second set of tion of a supporting frame, a central standard supported on said frame, a member supported by said standard, parts supported by said frame and providing a sinuous course between said member and said parts, a set of spaced carriers adapted to carry a set of spaced thread-supplying devices, said member and said parts being provided with means to support and guide saidcarriers in an annular path intersected by said sinuous course, a carrier rotatable on said standard and adapted to carry a second set of threadsupplyingdevices, a gear wheel onsaid carrier and having thread-receiving spaces at intervals between adjacent teeth,.means op-.

' erated by said gear wheel for rotatin said set of carriers in an opposite direction to said carr er, and means operated by sa1d carrier for guiding threads from said second set of said devices through said spaces and said course.

13. In a braiding machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a central standard supported on said frame, a member supported by said'standard, parts. supported by,

said frame and providing a sinuous course between said member and said parts, a set of spaced carriers adapted to carry a set of thread-supplying devices, said member and said parts'being provided with means to support and guide said carriers in an annular path intersected by said sinuous course, a carrier rotatable on said standard and adapted to carry a second set of thread-supplying devices, means operated by said carrier for rotating said set of carriersaround said path, and means cooperating with said carrier for moving threads delivered from said second set of thread-supplying devices through said sinuous course, the-last named means including vertically extending thread-guiding tubes traversing said sinuous course. i v

14. In a braiding machine, the combina tion of a supporting'base, a central. standard rising from said base, a member'supported on the upperportion of said standard and having radially extending arms, spaced standards rising from said base at intervals around the central standard and havin parts on the upper portions thereof exten ing inwardly into the spaces between said arms and providing a sinuous course between said arms and said parts, a set of spaced carriers supported and guided on said arms and said parts in an annular path intersected by said course and adapted to carry a set of thread-supplying devices, a carrier rotatable on said standard below said member and adapted to carry a second.

set of thread-supplying devices, actuating means for the carriers of-said set, including moving elements carried by said arms and moving elements carried by said parts, and

thread guiding parts arranged to. guide devices through said course.

15. In a braiding machine, the combinationof two sets of thread-supplying devices, means for supporting and rotating them in annular paths and in opposite directions to each other around a common axis, and

means for guiding threads delivered from 4 10 mechanism for driving said carriers divided by and supported on the respective sides of the path of said threads, the two portions of said. divided mechanism being actuated by a part rotating around said axis.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 15 in presence of two Witnesses.

. JACOB LUNDGBEN. Witnesses:

A. V. GRANT, J r., G. P. SHARKEY. 

